What's the largest cash purchase you've ever made?

[latenights]

Since it seems that most people don't carry cash much these days, but some people here do an all cash system, what is the largest cash purchase you've made and what was it for? Did you feel uncomfortable making the purchase with cash? Would you do it again?

[kork13]

When I first moved to Japan a few years ago, I had to pay my first & last months' rent & the rental agent fee, and they only accepted cash (Yen). So I ended up walking around with over $10k worth in Yen.... The weirdest feeling was walking around with that much cash, I've never done that before.... so yes, uncomfortable is probably accurate.

[KTP]

Toyota Tundra 4x4 supercab pickup, brand new. Paid cash. Tried to pay with credit card first but dealer wouldn't do it.

[disneysteve]

Interesting question. And by cash, I'm assuming you mean actual paper currency, not a check. I've made plenty of large purchases with checks but actual cash I'll have to think about.

The one thing that comes to mind is a car down payment. I seem to recall using cash for part of that one time, maybe $5,000 worth. The reason was that I had a sum of cash that was off the books. I didn't want it to go through my account and write a check.

[97guns]

i've bought $9500 in silver with cash

[edg126]

In cash bills probably $3800 to a landscaper to cut down a tree. The only time Ive been to a bank in years.

[cypher1]

I think it was 7 years ago buying my friends 2003 Acura RSX for $10000 cash. It was a good deal at the time, as I sold it 16 months later for 12500.

[MonkeyMama]

I honestly don't know if I have ever spent more than like $50 in cold hard cash.

Edited: Maybe $100 for a Craigslist purchase? For like a used appliance?

[bigdaddybus]

I bought a Mini Cooper S off Craigslist a couple years ago. He was asking 12K, 10K in cash convinced his wife to sell. I've written bigger checks, but that's it for cash.

[97guns]

i just sold my 2007 mazda today, took a deposit to hold it and the buyer is bringing 12K cash friday

[Jerry91]

I had used cash for various things. I am one person who prefers cash compared to cards. Few years back, I bought a blackberry for cash. That was one of the biggest cash purchases in the recent times. Next, I am planning to buy a car and thinking of paying the down payment through cash.

[disneysteve]

I honestly don't know if I have ever spent more than like $50 in cold hard cash.

Edited: Maybe $100 for a Craigslist purchase?

Wow. I know I'm the one always asking about carrying cash but to think that $50 is a lot to spend is just mind boggling to me. I guess part of it is an age/generational thing, but lots of places didn't used to accept credit cards. Now everybody with an iPhone has a Square reader so even yard sales and flea markets can take credit but that's a very recent development. Being a person who grew up going to garage sales, flea markets, auctions, antique stores, and collectibles shows, cash was the ONLY option (and probably still is much of the time). I've been a dealer since 1986 and cash was all I ever accepted. If you were making a purchase at my booth, whether it was $1 or $500, you were paying cash, and the same was true when I went to someone else's booth. So pulling out a couple hundred dollars was not an uncommon occurrence at all.

[disneysteve]

Not exactly a purchase but a time when I routinely use cash is at the casino. If I sit down at a blackjack or poker table, I'm typically putting $300-$500 cash down to buy chips.

[rennigade]

I couldnt even tell you the largest cash purchase I ever made was...I did see my father pay $10k in cash to contractors for putting a new roof on his house.

[JoeP]

Yes, there needs to be a distinction. To me, "cash" means actual paper currency in denominations such as $100, $50, $20, etc. A check, whether personal or from a bank, is totally different.

With actual cash, I've bought a new washer and dryer set, new dishwasher, new microwave, a bunch of CL stuff, cell phones, some car repairs. We received over $6k in actual cash for a car we sold, and had it deposited immediately in the bank where the transaction occurred. Also received $4k in hundreds for a hot tub we sold.